LISBON: Sir Alex Ferguson will let Wayne Rooney off the leash as Manchester United starts its Champions League challenge at Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday.

Rooney has been sidelined since breaking a metatarsal bone in United's first match of the season against Reading, but he is set to feature at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney (in red) receives treatment from a physio during their English Premier League soccer match against Reading in Manchester, northern England August 12, 2007. [Reuters]

The England striker returned to training last week and was keen to play against Everton on Saturday, but Ferguson wasn't prepared to risk him until he was fully fit.

With United strangely lacklustre in attack so far this season, Rooney's return is perfectly timed.

The Premier League champion hasn't scored more than once in any of its seven matches this season. Successive 1-0 wins against Tottenham, Sunderland and Everton have been more notable for United's lack of fluency than the results.

But having Rooney fit and desperate to make up for lost time should go a long way to solving the problem.

The last time Rooney broke a toe was before the 2006 World Cup. Just weeks after suffering the injury he announced his return to action by walking into the England team's hotel and proclaiming 'the big man is back'. Unfortunately he was far from match fit and made little impact in the tournament.

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